Lubricating box



Oct. 24, 1950 c. M. vlGo Erm. 2,527,164

LUBRICATING Box I Filed April 30, 1946 RENE Rl NADAL,

Patented oct 24, 195o UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE LUBRICATING BOX CastorM. Vigo, Tampa, and Ren Rl, Nadal, Archer, Fla.

Application April 30, 1946, Serial No. 665,973

4 Claims. (Cl'. 308-85) This invention relates to a lubricating box, andmore particularly to such a box adapted for positioning at theextremities o1' axles for railroad cars and the like.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improvedlubricating box characterized by the absence of stuffing or packing, andwherein a continuous circulation of the lubricant is provided insuringready lubrication of the axle or shaft at all times.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of a rotatablering secured to the axle or shaft, and adapted to lift the oil from thelower portion o1' the lubricating box to the upper porcion thereof,including means whereby the oil is redirected to the extremity of theaxle or shaft.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedrotating obturator for the redirection and recirculating of oil into thelubrieating chamber, and a further closure member adapted to insure aneffective seal against the l cape of any lubricant along the shaft oraxle.

still further object of the invention is the provision of such a devicecharacterized by means whereby the oil is returned from the rotatingring adapted to elevate it above the shaft to the top of the shaft, witha minimum of dimculty in eiort.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of improved meansfor adjusting the relative tightness of the seal of the outer obturatorin order to positively preclude the escape of oil or similar lubricatinguid thereover.

Still other objects reside in the combinations ci elements, arrangementsof parts and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointedout hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, wher-einthere is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal cross section showing one form oflubricating box embodying features of the instant invention. v

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 ofFigure 1, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, certainportions thereof being shown in plan.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views oi the drawins! The lubricating box oi the instantinvention is comprised of complemental upper and lower halfsections Iand 5l, respectively, provided with extending lugs or flanges I2 havingaligned apertures I3 therein, through which extend bolts it,

holding the upper and lower halves in related assembly to form a unitarystructure having an internal lubricating fluid reservoir I5. The upperhalf-portion I0 is provided with a longitudinally extending channel I6,in which is adapted to be seated a supporting spring of a vehicle, suchfor example as a railway car.

Journaled for free rotation within the chamber I5 formed by the halvesI0 and I I is an axle generally indicated at I1, upon which are mountedconventional wheels (not shown). An obturator is formed for finalsealing of the lubricant within the reservoir I5 by means ofcomplemental upper and lower ring-like segments, including brasssegments I8 and leather segments I9, adapted to bear against the shaftof the axle Il. The compression of the leather segments I9 may bereadily varied, as by means of screws extending through suitableoppositely disposed apertures in the brass segments I Il and Il,respectively, and carrying lock nuts 2l. Positioned axially outwardlyfrom the segments I8 and i9 is a second obturator 22, which is comprisedof a beveled ilange facing the chamber I5, secured to and rotatable withthe axle I'I within a groove 23 formed annularly within the housing. Thelower portion of the groove 23 includes a channel 24, extendingdownwardly to a port 25 in the lower section of the housing, throughwhich oil caught by the rotating ring 22 may return to the chamber I5. Adepression 26 is formed at a point adjacent the port 25 for theaccommodation of such iluid.

Positioned interiorly of the rotating ring 22 is an elevator ring 2l forlubricant, of a conguration generallysimilar to the ring 22, but largerin diameter, and provided with a beveled edge 28. The elevating ring 2lis adapted for free rotation within the chamber I5 with the axle Il.

The elevator ring 2l is rotatable in an annular groove 29 in thehousing, parallel to the annular groove 23 and from whose upper part adeclining oil return passage 3D opens through the top of the chamber I5.The upper end of the pas sage 30 is also in communication with a fillingopening BI, through which oil can be introduced into the chamber I5. Theiilling opening 3| is closed by a plug member including a brass wiper 32and a top piece 33, the wiper member 32 being provided with an angularlydisposed lower face 3d adapted normally to be held in abutting relationwith the periphery of the ring 2l, in such manner as to correspond withthe bevel thereof. The plug member includes extending lugs 32epositioned in channels 32h cut in the sides of aperture 8| to insureproper alignment of the wiper member 22. It will thus be seen that theelevating ring 21 is adapted to lift oil during the rotation thereoffrom the lower portion of the chamber or space Il to the top thereof,which oil or similar lubricant is wiped oi! of the beveled edge of thering into the channel 2l and flows downwardly therewithin.

Positioned over the top of the axle I1 is a brass journal bearing Isprovided with tongues 3| engaging in suitable channels or grooves 21 inthe side walls of the upper member ill, in such manner as to precludethe rotation thereof with the axle, and which journal brass is providedwith channels lt in the top thereof for the accommodation of lubricant.The channels are provided with apertures or bores Il which extendentirely through the member 25 into contact with the upper surface ofthe axle i1, and permit the passage of fluid therethrough to the axle.

It will thus be seen that oil passed through the channel 30 falls to theupper surface of the journal brass 35, and is thence conveyed throughthe channels I9 to the axle, to afford an effective lubrication thereof.As previously described, it-

willbe seen that as the lubricating fluid falls olf the axle into thelower portion of the chamber I5, the same is raised by the elevatingring 21 and wiped oi'f by the brass member 82, to re-fall through thechannel 30 and re-lubricate the device continually.

If desired, the lower member Il may be providedwith a port or aperture40, provided with a closure member ll secured in position, as by screws42, through which access may be had to the interior of the device forcleaning purposes or the like.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided animproved lubricating box characterized by the complete absence of thecustomary stuffing or packing, which insures a relatively continuousiiow of lubricant to the axle or shaft, and which is reliable andefficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive tomanufacture and assemble, which accomplishes all the objects of thisinvention, and others, including many advantages of great practicalutility and commercial importance.

While in the foregoing this device has been described as particularlyadapted for use with railway axles, or the like, it is to be understoodthat it is equally applicable to any axle requiring the use of alubricating box, or any similar rotatins shaft.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterposed merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

l. In a Iiournal box, a lubricant containing housing having an endformed with an opening. an axle extending through said opening andhaving a bearing portion within said housing, the interior of saidhousing being formed with axially spaced first and second annularchannels surrounding said axle, a first declining lubricant returnpassage leading from said first annular channel into the lower part ofsaid housing, said second annular channel being open to the lower partof the interior of said housing, a second outwardly declining lubricantreturn passage in the upper part of said housing above said axle andlocated adjacent to said end of the housing, said second passage havingits upper end in communication with the upper part of said secondannular channel and its lower end in communication with the upper partof the interior of said housing above said bearing portion of the axle,said axle having first and second rings located between said housing endand the bearing portion of the axle, said first and second rings beingaxially spaced from each other and arranged to work closely in said nrstand second annular channels. respectively.

2. In a journal box, a lubricant containing housing having an end formedwith an opening, an axle extending through said opening and having abearing portion within said housing, the interior of said housing beingformed with axially spaced first and second annular channels surroundingsaid axle, a iirst declining lubricant return passage leading from saidilrst annular channel into the lower part of said housing, said secondannular channel being open to the lower part of the interior of saidhousing, a second outwardly declining lubricant return passage in theupper part of said housing above said axle and located adjacent to saidend of the housing, said second passage having its upper end incommunication with the upper part of said second annular channel and itslower end in communication with the upper part of the interior of saidhousing above said bearing portion of the axle, said axle having iirstand second rings located between said housing end and the bearingportion of the axle, said rst and second rings being axially spaced fromeach other and arranged to work closely in said first and second annularchannels, respectively, a wiper mounted in the upper end of said secondlubricant return passage and engaging the periphery of said second ringwhereby lubricant on said second ring is wiped to subside through saidsecond passage to lubricate said axle bearing portion.

3. In a journal box, a lubricant containing housing having an end formedwith an opening, an axle extending through said opening and having abearing portion within said housing, the interior of said housing beingformed with axially spaced first and second annular channels surroundingsaid axle, a ilrst declining lubricant return passage leading from saidi'irst annular channel into the lower part of said housing, said secondannular channel being open to the lower part of the interior of saidhousing, a second outwardly declining lubricant return passage in theupper part of said housing above said axle and located adjacent to saidend of the housing, said second passage having its upper end incommunication with the upper part of said second annular channel and itslower end in communication with the upper part of the interior of saidhousing above said bearing portion of the axle, said axle having firstand second rings located between said housing end and the bearingportion of the axle, said first and second rings being axially spacedfrom each other and arranged to work closely in said ilrst and secondannular channels, respectively, a wiper mounted in the upper end of saidsecond lubricant return passage and engaging-the periphery of saidsecond ring whereby lubricant on said second ring is wiped to subsidethrough said second passage to lubricate said axle bearing portion, aperforated journal brass in the upper part of said housing with whichsaid axle bearing portion is engaged and onto which lubricant subsidingin said second passage iiows.

4. In a journal box, a lubricant containing housing having an end formedwith an opening, an axle extending through said opening and having abearing portion within said housing, the interior of said housing beingformed with axially spaced rst and second annular channels surroundingsaid axle, a first declining lubricant return passage leading from saidrst annular channel into the lower part o f said housing, said secondannular channel being open to the lower part of the interior of saidhousing, a second outwardly declining lubricant return passage in theupper part of said housing above said axle and located adjacent to saidend of the housing, said second passage having its upper end incommunication with the upper part of said second annular channel and itslower end in communication with the upper part of the interior of saidhousing above said bearing portion of the axle, said axle having rst andsecond rings located between said housing end and the bearing portion ofthe axle, said rst and second rings being axially spaced from each otherand arranged to work closely in said rst and second annular channels,respectively, a wiper mounted in the upper end of said second lubricantreturn passage and engaging the periphery of said second ring REFERENCESCITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 427,994 Hosier May 13, 18901,012,218 Ono Dec. 19, 1911 2,005,526 Albeck June 18, 1935 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 26,940 France Sept. 11, 1860 21,085 GreatBritain 1908

